INSIDE THE BLACKHAWKS.

Youngsters' Golden Rule: Roll With The Changes

December 14, 1998|By K.C. Johnson, Tribune Staff Writer.

There is no truth to the rumor that among the many new duties Blackhawks coach Dirk Graham is attempting to master, babysitting is one of them.

But the Hawks are young. Very young. Nine players would have trouble renting a car on the road without a legal guardian present. (For those readers who use a chauffeur, most rental-car companies require drivers to be 25.)

Youth offers mixed blessings. On the plus side is raw talent, fresh legs and insouciance in the face of pressure. On the minus is lack of experience and the tendency to fluctuate wildly through the highs and lows of an 82-game season.

"With young players, you have to make sure they don't get too high or too low," Graham said. "There are certain times to push a young player and certain times not to. Certainly, there is a maintenance level there, but it depends on the individual."

Eric Daze pulled himself out of a recent slump with three goals in two games. Graham said he didn't say much to Daze, just stressed the areas important for his success--skating wide and driving to the net.

For 19-year-old Dan Cleary or 21-year-old Chad Kilger, Graham may take a different approach. But at 23, Daze is already a veteran of three NHL seasons and believes he has learned some important lessons.

"I've learned it's a long season," said Daze. "If you have a great game, think about it for a little bit and then get right back to work the next day. The same with a bad game. If you don't do that, one bad game turns into five or six bad games in a row."

Back on track: Paul Coffey, who had played in just four games because of back and leg problems, made his first appearance Sunday since Nov. 21. Mike Maneluk also returned after missing two games with bruised ribs.

Scratched: Bob Probert, who hasn't scored a goal since Oct. 30 against Florida, was a healthy scratch. For Dallas, Brett Hull missed his seventh game of the last eight with a strained groin.

Tag team: Chris Chelios and Dave Manson have settled in nicely as the Hawks' top defense pairing, with both typically logging the most ice time on the team.

In the three games before Sunday, they both have an even plus/minus rating and chipped in offensively with 18 shots and four assists. Manson has three of those.

"They are playing well together," Graham said. "We put them against most of the top-line forwards to shut them down, and they have fed off each other very well. They are just taking care of their jobs."

Manson downplays the pairing, saying he plays the same style of game no matter whom he's paired with. But he does enjoy playing with Chelios, a three-time Norris Trophy winner.

"He's a pro," said Manson. "But it's not just us two. Defense is a team thing, and if the forwards are playing strong defensively, which they have, it helps us out a lot."

Game on: Sunday marked the Hawks' fifth game in eight days, a stretch softened slightly by the lack of travel. Four of the five games came at the United Center, and the only road game--in Detroit--forced the team to be gone just over 24 hours.